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AN '/r^^^^/i^ ^ 

ADDRESS, 

DELIVERED BEFORE THE 
OF 

IN THE STATE OF N.JERSEY, 
ON MONDAY, 

THE TWENTY-SECOND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 

IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT PRINCETON, 
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE BIRTH-DAY OF 

WASHINGTON. 
BY SAMUEL BAYARD. 






^^« 




PniSTKD AND PUBLISHED BT LEWIS BEAHV, 

1813. 



f 



33^ 




Hfctract from the Minutes of the Nitw-Jerset WASHiwaTos BENsroLsx^ 
SociETT IN THK Towx OF Pbixcetow, February 22, 1813. 

" Kesolred, That the thanks of tliei Society be presented to the first Vice- 
President, for his appropriate Addres; delivered before the Society this day, 
and that he be requested to furnish a copy for pubfication." 

True Extract from t/ie Minutes. 

JOS. H. SKELTON, Sec'iy 



te review with sentiments of fl^Iial veneratica his pre-ciiii- 
iient services to his country, and to hold up to the admir- 
ing world and for the imitation of his successors, his 
endeared, his splendid and august character. Into a mi- 
nute detail of his public services and his private virtues, 
our time on the present occasion will not allow us to en- 
ter. A selection of a few of the most prominent features 
in the character of this illustrious man, calculated at 
once to renew our recollection of his merits, and to excite 
us to an imitation of his example, will best comport with 
the design of the present meetings;. 

One of the first qualities which strikes the attentive 
observer in the character of Washingto.v, is that of a 
predominant and disinterested lore of comdni. Although 
blessed witij an ample fortune, though possessing in the 
bosom of his own family and immediate neJghbourhoo<l 
all that gives value to life, ease, resj;ect, confidence and 
affection, "progressive virtue end approving lieaven,*' 
when his country's voice called him to tije tented field, 
to the unequal and hazardous contest with the veteran 
legions of Britain, that voice lie obeyed without a 
murmur, tlioiigh at the erahient risque of character, 
of property and of life. In assuming this great and ]ter- 
ilous undertaking, no seliish or mercenary views actuated 
the mind of the American chief. He relused all remune- 
ration for his services. He consented to receive odIt a 
reimbursement of his actual and unavoidable exiKn- 
ces. He loved his country not merely bryond his fami- 
ly, his personal ease and pi oner ly, but \v}\ t>8 ivSipU'-lj 
more rare, beyond J.:.'me itseif, Oftea \>.-.' 6 !je pui >it'- (a 
hazard when his country's welfare ^Ir-i^i'^^n^ied the exj..i)- 
sure. No narrow views, no local at lac il meats, no Tii(.''"ij 
feoliags ever warped his enlarged inlnd. 'i'a secure 



the independence, the safety and welfare of his native 
land occupied tAc unremitted and concentrated efforts of 
every faculty of liis mind. So pure and so elevated was 
liis patriotism, tjjat it eontrouled and crushed every low 
and rival feeling. It suhdued ambition and envy, jealousy 
and avarice, the love of praise, and the pursuit ci'pleasure. 
On this subject suffer me to present you with the testimony 
of a surviving revolutionary hero, who shared his confi- 
dcMcc and his perils. Th^ celebrated General Henry 
Lee, whose life a few ijjoriihs since had nearly fallen a 
sacrifice to the ferocity of an infurinte mob, in a neigh- 
bouring state, describing the circumstances attending the 
surrender of Lord CornwalUs, concludes v.ith the follow- 
ing just eulogium on the Arnerican chief.* 

" This wide acclaim of joy and coiifulence, as rare as 
sincere, sprung not only f^m the conviction that our 
signal success would bi iug in its train the blessings of 
peace so much wanted by our wasted country and from 
the splendor with which it encircled our national name, 
but from the endearing reflection that the mighty exploit 
had been achieved by our faithful, our beloved Washixg- 
TON. AVe had seen him stiiggling through the war, with 
inferior force, against thct/M^st troops of England, assist- 
ed by her powerful navy : — -surrounded with difliculties — 
oppressed by want ; never dismayed — never appalled ; 
never despairing of the commonwealth. We have seen 
him renouncing his own faqie as a soldier, hi^ safety as 
a man, in his unalloyed love of country^ weakening his 
own immediate force to strengthen that of his lieutenants . 
submitting with equanimity to his own consequent ina- 
bility to act, and rejoicing in their triumphs, because best 

* See Lee's Memoirs of the American war in the Southern States, 2 Vol. 
\i. 37'2. 



oaloulated to uphold the great cause entrusted to his 
eare, at length hy one great and final exploit, under the 
benign influence of providence, lifted to the pinnacle of 
glory—the merited reward of his toils, his heroism, his 

patience and his virtue. Wonderful man ! rendering it 

most difficult by his conduct througliout life to decide, 
whether he most excelled in goodness or in greatness." 

A very striking proof of Washington's transcendent 
love of country, (and the only additional one we shall 
now mention), occurred at the close of our revolutionary 
struggle, just as the regular force of the confederation 
"was on the point of being disbanded. " The war," (says 
an eye witness, and who is at this time one of our most 
distinguished representatives in Congress), *» was noyt 
brought to a close, and its great object obtained. The 
pay of the army was greatly in arrears, and that which 
had been furnished was of little value. A separation of 
the troops, without some good prospect of redress to the 
soldier appeared to be the loss of all. At this critical 
moment the proposal was made not to lay doivn their amis 
until tlieir grievances were redressed. Nor could such a 
measure fail to find advocates. While the flame spread 
with rapidity through the eamp and the efforts of some 
of our best officers failed to check the impetuous tor- 
rent, the father and defender of his country, and the 
friend of the soldier, now interposed and threw himself 
in the breach. Here stood the man who had so often led 
this veteran band to victorj' and to glory ; conjuring these 
companions of his toils not to tarnish the splendor of 
their achievements by perpetrating the paracidal deed. 
The triumph was glorious and complete. Order and 
harmony were restored, and the anonymous author of 
these incendiary addresses retired from the field asham- 

B 



10 

ed and confounded." "I have uniformily believed/^ 
continues this eloquent soldier, " that it was not too 
much to say, that to tlie unbounded popularity and in- 
fluence of that illustrious chief, rclio now dee2)S in his 
humble tomb at Mount- lemon was the army then saved 
from disgrace— and perhaps the country from bloodshed 
and ruin.'** 

With a mind so elevated by an ardent love of country 
it is natural to infer that Wi^siiiNGTON must have been 
distinguished by other admirable qualities. That he was 
&r«re none will venture lo tleny. In no instance was he 
ever known to shrink from any hazard to which duty 
called him, and what is essential to a great general, with 
bravery he ever associated prudence and forethought. 
Ever ready for the boldest enterprize, Jie was cool, cau- 
tious and inflexible in executing his plans. Of these 
qualities he gave a memorable proof in the eventful bat- 
tle in the vicinity of this place. After eluding the vigi- 
lance of the British general, who merely deferred till the 
morning the execution of a plan intended to crush the on- 
ly effective force of the union, behold at the dawn of 
day the enterprising Washington in the rear of his ene- 
my, and on the ground where we are now f assembled, 
turning the tide of war, reviving the drooping hopes o f 
his country, and rescuing the liberties of America from 
impending destruction. Washington has often been 
called the American Fabius, for his prudence d,nd supe- 



* Extract from a speech delivered hj thehon. Renjamiii Tnlmagc Esq. in the 
house of Representatives, January 7, 1803, against tlie act for raising an ad« 
(litional force of 20,000 men. 

•}■ The battle of Princeton is considered as the crisis of the Amerionn 
vcvoUition. 



11 



riority to popular clamour ; but when occasions justified 
the change of system, we see him displaying the intrepi- 
dity of a Conde and the perseverance of ^ Frederick the 
great. 

With those great and heroic qualities whicli are calcu- 
lated 10 excite our admiration, he united others which 
attracted confidence and affection. He possessed unspot- 
ted integi'ity. No one could ever justly charge him with 

insincerity or an intentional departure from truth He 

was also by nature and pi-inciple humane— hh enemy 
in the whole course of the war, could never with the sem- 
blance of justice complain of one act of cruelty attribut- 
able to his agency. He was kind and compassionate to 
the prisoner and the captive, and softened, wherever he 
was able, the unavoidable calamities of Avar. To his 
own army he was a father and a friend— he watched 
over their health, their safety and their comfort. He sliar- 
ed their privations, he studied their interests, he supplied 
their wants and redressed their grievances. Hence un- 
der every change of fortune he enjoyed their confidence, 
and secured their zealous and prompt obedience. Such 
was the illustrious chief of the American army ^patri- 
otic, disinterested, brave, prudent, enterprising, and hu- 
mane. 

Having resigned his military command, he retired to 
private life, hoping there to enjoy in common with his 
fellow citizens the fruits of his anxious cares and his in- 
cessant toils, through an eight year's arduous contest. 
But providence had otherwise ordained. Renewed trials 
of his wisdom, his fortitude and his enlightened zeal for 
the public good still awaited liim. He had a government 
to organize, to administer, and to settle on the firm hs^- 



sis of sound morality and practical wisdom ; and witb 
what admirable prudence did lie conduct the affairs of 
Jiis country through a period of peace hardly less stor- 
my than a state of war. 

When that dreadful volcano, the French revolution, 
bursting from its crater, poured its destructive lava over 
the countries of Europe ; while in its course it threatened 
even this distant happy land with its desolating rage, 
Washington opposed the mighty mound of his high char- 
acter and deep founded popularity to the inundating tor- 
rent, arrested its fury, and saved his country. Combat- 
ing with firmness the secret intrigues and the open at- 
tempts of the agents of France, to embroil us in a war 
with Great Britain, he inflexibly maintained his pacific 
system, and had the satisfaction to witness in the in- 
creased confidence and aifection of his fellow-citizens, a 
rich reward for his labours to promote their welfare. 

Although a considerable portion of his life was passed 
in the bustle and parade of camps ; war, with him, was 
no favorite pursuit. He was the decided friend and ad- 
vocate of peace. " Observe," says he in his parting ad- 
dress to his fellow-citizens, ** good faith and justice fo- 
ward all nations— ^eiilliTate'peacc andharmony with alV* 

At the commencement of his administration he found 
his country involved in wars with several Indian tribes 
on our frontiers, and with the piratical states of Barbary. 
With several of the European powers we also had un- 
settled disputes which threatened to lead to acts of hos- 
tility. All these he brought to an advantageous close by 
the vigour of his measure?, or by amicable negociation. 

It was his invariable policy to husband the resources 
of his country, to extinguish the debt of the revolution, 
to fortify our harbours and coasts, to fill the public ar- 



13 



scnals, to replenish the treasury, to organize the militia, 
and to provide a?> efficient naVv adequate to the proiec- ^ 
tion of a lucrative and increasing coameree. Or these 
subjects how different were his jnst and liberal views, 
from the false and visional^ theories which have con- 
Ironledthe policy and depressed the character of our gov- 
ernment for the last twelve years.* 

We have now contemplated pur beloved Washington 
as a military chief, and as the first magistrate of our re- 
public. Let us fiirtliei- view him in the retirement of 
private life, practising tliose us, ful and amiable virtues, 
which have given a finish to Ins exalted character. 

« A christian is the highest style of man," and Wash- 
ington was a real christian. — Too sincere to profess 

- O 

• « To an acti%'e external commerce the protection of a naval force is in 
dispensable. This is manifest with re^rd to wars in v l.iich a st«te is iisclf a 
party : but besides this, it is in our own experience that the most sincere ueu- 
ti-ahty is not a sufficient guard against the depredations of nations at war. To 
secure respect to a neutral flag requires a naval force oriranized and rep.dy 
to %-indicate it from insult or a°-£?ression. This may even prevent the necessity 
of going to war by discouraging belligerent powers from committing such viola- 
tion of the rights of the neutral party as may first or last have no other option. 
From the best information I have been able to obtain, it wouid seem as if our 
trade to the Mediterranean, without a protcct'-ng force will always be insecure, 
and our citizens exposed to the calamities from which numbers of them have 
but just been reheved. . - 

« These considerations invite the United States to look to means and to set 
about the gradual creation of a uavy The ir>crrasing prog -ess of their naviga. 
tion promises them at no distant penod, the requisite siipply of seamen, and 
their means in other respects favour the nndertaking. Uig an encouragement 
Ukewise that their particular situation Mill give weight and influence to a mod- 
erate naval force in their hands. Will it not then be adviseable to begin without 
delay, to lay up the matevials for the building and equippingof ships of war, and 
to proceed in the work by degrees in pi-oportion as our resonixes shall render ij 
practicable without inconvenience ; so that a future war of Europe may not 
find our commerce in the same unprotected state in which it was found l-.y the 
present." See president Washington's last speech to Congress, on the 7th De- 
cember, 1796. 



, 14 

Vihat he (lid not believe, and too great to be asbanicd of 
wbiit he did believe, he never hesitated to avow, by an 
open pi'oression, bis decided attaebment to the religion 
of the cross.* How constant and regular was his attend- 
asiec on the duties of public worship, and how solemn 
and devout was bis deportment Miiile thus engaged ! On 
entering on any important trust, with what reverence 
and humility did he look up to the Father of Light for 
his guidance and favour : and never did he announce any 
signal pablie blessing to his country, without gratefully 
ascribing it to the merciful interposition of an Almighty 
Benefactor. 

In his first oHieial act as President of the United States, 
he addressed *' his fervent supplications" (these ure his 
own words) " to tirdt Almighty being who rules over the 

* The friends of infidelity have soiwefhnes affected to question whether after 
all the recognitions made by Wasliiug^on of the providence of God, he was re- 
ally a believer in divine revelation. Let them be answered and silenced b>' tlie 
following quotations from his cii'cnlar letter to the governors of the several 
states on resigning his command ©f the American army. — "The free cultivation 
of letters — the unboundeci extension of commerce — the progressive refinement 
of manners — the growing liberalit} of sentiment, and above al!, the pure aiidbe- 
iiign U^ht of revelation have had a melioi-ating influence on mankind and inci-cas- 
ed the blessings of society." 

" I now make it my earnest prayeit'^it God would have you, and the state 
over which vou preside, in his holy 'protection ; and tliat he would incline the 
)icaits of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination, and obedience to gov- 
ernment, txjentertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fel- 
low-citizens of the United States at large, and parlicularly for their brethren 
•who have served in the field, and finally tJiat he would most graciously be pleas- 
ed to dispose us all to do justice — to lore mercy — and to demean ourselves with 
that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind wliieli were the characteris- 
tics of the ffoj.'ne fi)«///or of oii.r biased rdl^lon,yi'\\.\v.mt An humble imitation of 
whose example in these things, wo qjlivrte^er hope to be a happy nation. 
I have the honour to be, with much esteem and respect. Sir, 
Your e.\c('llcuty's most obedient servant, 

GEO. WASIIINGTO-V, 

Head-Quarters, Newburgh, Juue 18, 17S3. " 



universe, and who presides in tlie couneils of nations, 
and wliose providcnlial aid can supply every liunsan de- 
feet, for his henedietion on the government of the United 
States, that every instrument employed in its adminis- 
tration, might execute with success the functions allotted 
to his charge."— And afterhavingimparted to Congress 
his sentiments on the important occasion, which then 
brouglit them together, he would not " take his leave of 
them without once more resorting to the benign parent 
of the human race, in humble supplication that his divine 
blessing might be rendered conspicuous in the temperate 
consultations, and the wise measures on which the suc- 
cess of the government must depend.*' 

Oh my country ! when this immortal man resigned the 
robe of civil authority — could he with Jiis mantle, but 
have left to his different suece9«ors in oiEce a "portion" 
of his pure and pious spirit, what an unspeakable benefit 
would have resulted to tlie American people. 

But Washington as a private cliaractcr was not only de- 
vout — he was charitable — he was geneious — ^lie was 
hospitable. — As a friend and neighbour he was just and 
kind. — ^1^0 institutions of learning and benevolence, he 
was a liberal patron.* — Of agriculture, commerce and 
the useful arts he was a decided friend ; while in all the 
relations of domestic and social life, he was exemplary 
and consistent. 

A character so distinguished, so far above that of or- 
dinary men, could not fail to excite the corrosion of en- 
vy and the attacks of slander. Pure as were his motives, 
and cautious as he had ever been in his sTieech and con- 
duet, ambitious men. whose desires he couJd not gratify, 

* He endowed a oolieg.'; in ]us native state in hisla'^t wil!. 



16 

«r wicketl men, whom he ivonld not coimtenanee, mis- 
represented his views, and traduced liis character. Cher- 
ishing, as lie ought, a just and proper respect for his high 
station and eliaracter, he would not stoop to make apol- 
ogies or explanations to men whom he could not hope to 
reconcile; y^^t he wos not insensible to the shafts of ma- 
lignant ealuinny. On one occasion, after receiving much 
cruel and unmerited censure, he could not forbear utter- 
ing this indignant conipUiint. * " That while I am using 
my v.t :'.o' t fxortjons (I repeat his own words) to estab- 
lisji u ' c'K..racter of our own, independent as far 

as ou!* -j.ji.jj^jiions and justice would permit, of every na- 
tion on earth, and wish, by steering a sleadij course, to 
preserve this conntr\\ from a desolating tear, I should be 
accused of being an eneirfV to one nation, and subject to 
the i'-iln.ence of anolher; and to prove it, that every act 
of my adnufiistration should be tortured, and the gross- 
est and most insidious representations made, by giving 
one side only of a sulijeet, and that too in such exagge- 
ra<ed and indecent terms as could scarcely be applied to 
a Nero, to a notoiious public defaulter, oi' even a com- 
mon pick-pocket." And against whom was this unjust 
and severe censure dire<'ted ? Who were concerned in 
thus cruelly calumniating the father of his country? 
Federal Republicans, were yon (he authors of these slan- 
ders ? No : arjd let the sentiment be forever cherished 
with honest exultation, you were ever the zealous de- 
fenders of your Washington's fanse. 

Having now taken a rapid view of some of the most 
prominent features in the cluiracter of our American 
chief, let us pause, and for a moment indulge in that 
patriotic pride, and in those elevated feelings, which 

• 8ee his letter to Mr. Jefferson, in Lis Life by Marshall. 5 vol. p. 675. 



must sAvell the bosom of every true-hearted American^ 
on a review of the life and virtues of this unequalled 
man. " Ancient and modern names are diminislitd in 
comparison with liis. Gseatness and guilt have often 
been allied ; but his fame is purer than it is brilliant. 
The destroyerifof nations should stand abashed at the fS 
majesty of his virtues. It represses the iutemperanee 
of their ambition, and darkens the splendor of their vic- 
tories.*'* 

The trappings of imperial or royal magnificence could 
have added nothing to the native grandeur of his char- 
acter. Their false and tinsel lustre would have been lost 
in the unborrowed effulgence of his assembled virtues. 
Justly was it observed by a very eminent and amiable 
British f advocate, in the hearing of him who now ad- 
dresses you — That *' if the wkole of human exceUence 
yjere collected into one pyramid — Washington would form 
the apeo?." 

During his administration of our national goyernmentj 
the name of an American was indeed an honourable name. 
It was a passport in foreign lands to civility and respect. 
The high character of his government followed the hum- 
blest citizen of the United States to the utmost verge of 
knowledge and civilizations. It threw a lustre round him> 
■which gave him consequence and ensured him attention. 
It was in general, recommendation enough to have been 
born and nurtured in the native land of WASHIXGTON* 
Spirit of our departed Chief! If from the mansions of 
eternity, where, we trust, thou a:rt now enjoying the re- 

* Extract from the answer of the Senate of the V, States to President Ad- 
ams's message, on t^e death of Gen. Washington. 

t Sir John NicoH, who, next to Sir William Scott, is, perhapa, at present. j 

the first ciyiUaa in England. 

1^ 



wards of piety and virtue, thou art permitted to regsu'ii 
the affairs of this wretched world j — if sympathetic sor- 
row could reach thy present ahode of unchangeahle feli- 
city — Oh, how would thy pure and hcnevolent nature be 
affected ^> ith grief, in contemplating the sad and altered 
state of thy once happy countiT^ ! 4 

Members of the Washington Society ! Standing to-day 
in this plac«, as the organ of your sentiments, I cannot 
close the present exerci&e without addressing a few 
words particularly to you. Professing, as you do, to ven- 
erate the character, to admire the wisdom, and to ap- 
prove the policy of him under the sanction of whose 
name you are now associated, let your conduct bear tes-^ 
timony to the sincerity of your professions. Washing' 
ton loved his countnj with a pure and unchanging affeC' 
tion. In this respect Ipt each of us endeavour to imi- 
tate our illustrious leader. While we pay a due regard 
to the rights, and cultivate the most friendly sentiments^ 
towartls other nations, we owe a higher and more devot- 
ed attachment to the land of our nativity. Here, where 
we first drew the breath of life — here, where we first 
imbibed the principles of liberty, and received instruc- 
tion from the oracles of eternal truth : — here, wherf 
our forefathers have dwelt, and where our tenderest lel- 
atives still reside — here should our warmest affections 
pre-eminently centre and rest. Away then with every 
foreign prejudice and attachment that is incompatible 
with the true interest and reputation of our own coun- 
try. Let us be Americans in speech, in heart, and in 
life. Let us cherish peace and friendship with all nations, 
and while we respect their rights, we may Justly and suc- 
cessfully insist on a due regard to our owmFeace, the best 
friend of Jlgriculinre and Commerce, was the uniform 



19 

policy of Washington. It is the true policy of the Unit- 
ed States. " Why should we abandon our own to stand 
on foreign ground."* 

What adequate compensation can we ever receive for 
millions of wasted treasure, for a ruined commerce, for 
the loss of that high national character we once enjoyed* 
or for the many« ah, too many, human victims sacrificed at 
the bloody shrine of Moloch ? Had he, who was *^Jlrst 
in war, jirst in peace, and/irsl in the hearts of his coun- 
trijmen," still presided in the councils of America, we 
should probably at this moment have been in the full en- 
joyment of peace and prosperity. But, discarding the 
wise counsels and the solemn admonitions contained in 
the last parting address of our venerated chief, in a mo- 
ment of fatal delusion our government has plunged their 
country into the gulph of an ofi<?nsive war. For more 
than eight months have we now been engaged in this un- 
happy contest ;— .and what are the mighty benefits it has 
already produced — a few sanguinary honors on the ocean, 
purchased by the loss of many valuable lives. But, dur- 
ing the same period, what has been its pernicious ef- 
fects ? A ruined commerce, an exhausted treasury, an 
unproductive revenue, immense loans, the certain ap- 
proach of heavy taxes, and worst of all, a horrible waste 
of human life ! Already have three American armies 
been defeated, or made prisoners of war -.—more than 
1500 souls have been hurried to the bar of their Sove- 
reign Judge, to receive tlie irrevocable sentence of eter- 
nal justice. Oh, how solemn a refleeiion this, to the 
authors and supporters of this rash and umieccssary 
contest I 

"^ Waslnnq;tori's fai'ewe!! address. 



And with whom are Me associated in this unhappy 
war ? With one of tht* most sanguinary tyrants that ever 
Avas permitted to seou!'ge tiie workl. With an iuiiK-rial 
usurper whose ambition is boundless as the earth, and 
whose cruelty is rekiitless as the grave ; who, in every 
part of his despotic empire, breaking as»under all tiie 
tenderest ties of social affection, tears l)yhp» ruthless and /t/64 
unsparing conscription from the arms of weeping and 
distracted relatives those w1k;tehed youths who were re- 
garded as the hopes of their family and the support of 
their parents in their declining age !— Ah ! see thes« 
tender victims, bound with cords, or hand-cuffed like ruf- 
ilans, dragged away to shed their blood, not in defencc-«ff 
their country, but to gratify the insatiable lust of imperial 
ambition, and to be conycrted into military machines 
for pros«^cuting seheiw<*s"6f plunder and devastation. 
W^irat heart must not bleed with pity while contemplat- 
ing the assembled youth of a civilized enjpire thus doom- 
ed to becoaie the instruments of death or misery to unof- 
fending nations, and the prime of whose life, instead of 
being devoled to the arts of j)eaee, and the acquisition 
of useful knowledge, is spent in learning tlic dreadful art 
of sheiRmig' human blood? But let the friends of peace 
and humanity rejoice in the hope that the career of this 
flestroycr of nations has at last come to an end. The 
signal vengeance of Almiglity Justice, that so long has 
slumbered, seemu at length to have overtaken' him, and 
by a series of disastrous incidents to have involved liis late 
triumphant hout, in one overwhelming and irreparable 
ruin. 

And here let us pause and ask ourselves, airain^i whom 



are we now engaged in war ? Agiunst a nation arn^ed for 
jho destruction of our liberty, our religion and our 



laws ? Nothing like it. It is a^inst a nation anxious to 
maintain with us the most friendly relations — and pos- 
sessing above any other people on earth the means of do- 
ing us the greatest injury in war and the greatest good in 
peace. Against a nation possessing a revenue more am- 
ple than any other on the globe, a navy that exceeds the 
combined navies of Europe, an army numerous, brave 
and well disciplined, and what is of still greater im- 
portance, against a nation contending under a convic- 
tion that her cause is just — under a tirm persuasion that 
on her part the contest is dtfenmve and that she has ex- 
hausted all the means of conciliation consistent with her 
yital interests. Under such circumstances, can we rea- 
sonably expect to be eventually successful ? 

But there is one circumstance in this war which must 
deeply affect every friend to tht, religion of his countiy. 
We profess to be a nation of protestant christians. Yet 
we are in arras on the side of a power, hostile to the prin- 
ciples of all true religion — and we are wasting our 
strength in the vain attempt to humble another, that is 
the chief support of the faith we profess — a people, who 
by voluntary and almost incredible efforts, have already 
done, and are still doing more to scatter the Itaaprlight 
of the gospel among the benighted heathen, than all the 
rest of tlie earth beside. In this most benoolent work 
the different societies in Great Britain, have done more 
within the last 20 years than was accomplished in the 
two preceding centuries. Until tlie present unhai)py 
war interrupted our intercourse with Britain and her de- 
pendencies, our citizens had begun liberally to co-ope- 
pate in this noble, this heavenly undertaking ; but tliis 
combined effort is now checked, and we are left to mourn 
the loss of those means and opportunities of joining in 



22 



this generous work, "which we so lately enjoyed, and I0 
console ourselves with barren wishes and sincere prayers 
for the success of the great effort now making to evan- 
gelize the world. 

Disciples of Washington ! are not these your views 
and sentiments ? Hesitate not then to avow and to spread 
them. If cahimniuteil by men of discordant opinions^ 
for principles such as we have stated, be not discouraged, 
but persevere. Great i» truth, and she must prevail. 
Remember that he by whose name you are designated as 
a society, whose maxims you revere, and wliose example 
you are proud to follow ; was also the subject of cruel 
and malignant slander — ^that he was censured, and revil- 
ed for his efforts to save liis country from " a desolat- 
ing war,*' Avith the very power against which we are 
now arrayed. " The diseip'e is not greater than his mas- 
ter," and if factious men, the enemies of peace, have tra- 
duced the father of his country, can you, his followers, 
reasonably expect to escape the shafts of calunmy ? Let 
us never shrink from the path of duty, however 
rugged it may prove — conscious of the purity of our aims 
— of ourattaeliment to our country — of the accordance of 
our vi^jji&^i^ ith the inimutable principles of truth and or- 
der ; let us resolutely advance, and wliile we zealously 
endeavour by every constitutional and prudent measure 
in our power to bring the present disastrous contest to a 
speedy and honorable close, let us be encouraged in all 
our efforts, by the gracious benediction of an iiijinitely 
greater than Washington, the founder ofour religion and 
pre-eminently the Prince of Pecicc, that " blessed are the 
peace-makers for they shall be called the children 
OF God." 



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